I visited Oregon back in 2008, and one of the wineries I had a look at was Torii Mor. Bid For Wine have managed to secure a stash of these small production Pinot Noirs which they are offering through their website. I got to try them and my notes are here. These are particularly balanced and quite elegant expressions of Pinot. Bid For Wine’s list prices, which are ex VAT and duty, are given in brackets. They are available here.
Torii Mor Pinot Noir 2010 Oregon
12.9% alcohol. Pale cherry red in colour. Ripe, fresh and supple nose of cherries and plums. The palate is sweetly fruited and supple with a bit of spicy structure under the restrained cherry fruit. Drinkable and fresh with some elegance. 89/100 (£13)
Torii Mor Eola Amity Hills Select Pinot Noir 2007 Oregon
From four vineyards, 13.3% alcohol, 23% new oak, 328 cases produced. Sweetly aromatic nose of cherries, plums and spice with a bit of warmth and some tea notes. The palate is silky and ripe with some taut, focused spiciness. There’s a nice balance of richness, subtlety and elegance. 93/100 (£21)
Torii Mor Dundee Hills Select Pinot Noir 2007 Oregon
From three sites in the Dundee Hills, 13.3% alcohol, 21% new oak, 353 cases produced. Rich, sweet and aromatic with a warm, spicy soy and tar edge to the rich berry fruits. The palate is supple and lush with sweet, juicy cherry fruit and some warm, tarry, spicy character adding a savouriness. 91/100 (£28)
Torii Mor La Cuillère Members’ Reserve 2007 Oregon
From three vineyards, 13.9% alcohol, 30% new oak, 252 cases produced. Silky, smooth and elegant with cherry and red berry fruits. Nice texture here. Light and supple but with some complexity. Lovely freshness and good acidity. 93/100 (£21)
Torii Mor Olalla Vineyard Umpqua Valley Pinot Noir 2007 Oregon
From a 4.5 acre vineyard in southern Oregon this has been aged in 40% new oak. Fresh and quite elegant with some structure to the lovely cherry and plum fruit. Nicely savoury spicy edge to the supple, expressive fruit which shows some sweetness and a touch of herbal character. Freshness and elegance to the fore. 92/100 (£21)
Torii Mor Deux Verres Reserve Pinot Noir 2010 Willamette Valley, Oregon
13.6% alcohol, 26% new oak, 650 cases. Cherry red colour. Lovely supple pure, ripe yet elegant cherry fruit nose is beautifully poised. The palate is mid-weight, silky and smooth with nice freshness allied to ripeness, and a subtle peppery hint. Lovely elegant mouthfeel here. 93/100 (£16)
Why are 4 of the 6 wines 2007 vintage and the other 2 2010 vintage? They having real difficulty selling their wines or what?!
Damien.
The 2007s are Torii Mor’s single vineyard wines (as Jamie tasted). The current releases of these available from the winery range from 2007 through to 2008. We’re selling the 2007s first and will then move on to the newer vintages. They’re in the fortunate position of being able to hold on to the higher end wines and sell them as they approach their drinking window (just like Vega Sicilia, Krug et al). So no, not a problem selling – just no rush to do so.